Postal or courier companies that come under the Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) are only responsible for the delivery of purchases made by international e-commerce companies.
"Our companies are only responsible for deliveries of the purchases made from these companies (to and from the Sultanate of Oman), but their actual operations are regulated by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP)," a TRA official said in reply to a query from the Observer regarding who is responsible if customers have any grievances.
Thousands of citizens and residents make purchases through international companies and delivery of products often overshoots the deadline promised by the retailer, and in some cases, the products delivered are not as promised.
"These products are affordable and competitive, but as we have to make payments in advance in most of the cases, the buyer is at their mercy till the product is delivered in the right condition at the right time," said Fatima, a regular customer, who purchases products online.
It may be noted that the ministry has started implementing regulatory provisions for e-commerce under Ministerial Decision No 499/2023 this month. This regulation is part of the national plan for e-commerce to regulate online buying and selling processes and reduce online fraud and scams related to e-commerce. Additionally, the regulation is introduced to align with advanced countries in regulating e-commerce, overseeing online stores, and imposing penalties on violators.
The regulatory provisions for e-commerce have been introduced through collaboration and partnership between the MoCIIP, the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, the Royal Oman Police represented by the Directorate General of Customs, the Consumer Protection Authority, the Central Bank of Oman, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Asyad Group, and the ITHCA Group.
The license to engage in e-commerce can be submitted through the Oman Business Platform.
The regulations specify several conditions for obtaining the license for individuals who do not possess a commercial record. The applicant must be an Omani, and the applicant's age should not be under 18 years.
For companies to obtain the license, they must be registered with the commercial register.
Non-Omanis can engage in e-commerce according to the provisions of the Foreign Capital Investment Law. Individuals or companies must also obtain approval from relevant authorities if the nature of the activity requires it.
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